Combined nibbing and slotting machine.



W. EVANS.

COMBINED NIBBING AND SLOTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I4. |915. l llm, Patented Dee. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. EVANS.

COMBINED NIBBING AND SLOTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I4. I9Is.

Lm. 11116111611 Dee. 14, 1915.

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W. EVANS.

COMBINED NIBBING AND SLOTTING MACHINE.

APPL! lN FILED Lm, I Patented Deu.14,1915.

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ATTORNEYS rirrrr r1 Vr rib,

WILLIAM EVANS, LANE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN EVANS SONS, A FIRM COMPOSED OF WILLIAM EVANS, EVANS, AND I-I. EVANS, 0F

PHILADELPHIA, rnivlvsirnvama.

COMIBINED NIIBBING AND SLOTTING MACHINE.

incassa.

Application filed July llt, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be` it known that I, WILLIAM EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Oak Lane, in the county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Combined Nibbing and Slotting Machine, of which the following is a specification. i i

My invention relates in general to the art of manufacturing vehicle springs, and particularly to that art so far as it is concerned with the making of spring plates which are both nibbed and slotted to nest with each other and retain their relative, more or less counterpart, positions both laterally and longitudinally under the creeping movement which is incident to their action in their u ltimate assemblage as vehicle springs of commerce. In the manufacture of the plates of springs of this type as heretofore conducted, it has been the practice to perform upon the spring plate two operations, one that of stamping or forging the nib and the other that of cutting out the so-called blind slot for the nib. These operations have usually been performed in a single machine organized to embody one mechanism for strikingV out or stamping the nib, and another and entirely independent mechanism for cutting, channeling, or sawing the slot out of the substance of the plate. The recognized disadvantages of this method are the loss of substance in the stock of the plate incident to the sawing operation,-the expense in machinery, time and labor, which the two separate operations involve,-the relative impossibility of stamping the nib at desired varying distances from the slot,-and the necessity of performing the two operations in that portion of the spring which has not been tapered and is, therefore, relatively far from the tapered end.

Although heretofore it has been possible to stamp the nib at a predetermined position with regard to the length of thespring plate,

\ and afterward to cut the slot in determinable position with .relation te the @einen ef Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. ila, i915.

Serial No. 39,766.

end, and with material loss of substance and strength,

My invention has for its primary object the avoidance of the foregoing disadvanta* geous features and conditions, and the construction of a machine and die in which both the nib and the blind-slot in the spring plate can be struck at a single operation, without loss of stock and near the tapered end of the plate, and in which, moreover, the male die which performs both operations may be of such composite character as within itself to be adjustable, so that that member of it which forges the nib may before the stroke, or contact of both the male and female dies, be moved to a predetermined desired position with relation to the location of the other member which simultaneously forges the slot. i

Further objects are the construction of a machine capable of performing the foregoing work, in which the moving parts and the elements thereof bear positive, although adjustable, relationship to each other, and operate uniformly and Certain1y,-the action being positive, and the machine itself durable,`dependable and relatively inexpensive.

To the foregoing and other ends my inventioncomprehends in its preferred embodiment an organized machine the fundamental and necessary operative elements of which area composite male die embodying y two members relatively adjustable and 'one Central of an sperato? fer accesories the approach and separation of both dies, preferably by the movement of the composite male die. l

By my compact organization of both machine and die, l avoid the complexity of organization inherent in the combined nibbing and slotting machinesheretofore used, in which, as already explained, the nibbing die is entirely independent of the cutting mechanism which is usually a rotating saw which channels out the blind slot in the plate.

Althonghl prefer a machine of the special organization and relative arrangement of the moving parts represented and described, I regard it as typifying simply an organized machine adapted for the purpose.

Notwithstanding this, however, my invention inV its details comprehends specific constructions represented and described and hereinafter specifically claimed.

For the pu 1pose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a certain type and embodiment of it which is at present preferred by me, since in practice it .gives satisfactory and reliable results. 'lt is to be understood, however, that the various instruinentalities in which my invention is embodied can be variously arranged and organized, and that my invention is not therefore limited tothe precise arrangeinentand organization of the instrumentalities typified in the construction A'depicted in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a front velevational view of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevational view of the saine machine. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation, Viartly sectional, of the cross-head of the upper, or male, die, the pitinan which operatesit, and the upper die. Fig. 4 represents an end elevational detail of the clutch collar which constitutes a part of the clutching mechanism. Fig. 5 represents a side elevational view of the clutching mechanism.

Fig. 6 represents a plan of the bolt which is ,a part of the clutch mechanism. Fig. 7 represents a'longitudinal, partly. sectional and partly elevational, view of a portion of the driving shaft, lits crank, and the pitman. Fig. 8 represents a horizontal sectional top plan of the die cross-head, in the plane of the dotted line 8 8 in Fig. 1. j Fig. 9 represents a sectional elevation of the clutch bolt removed from the clutch mechanism. Fig. 10 represents a fragmentary end elevational -view of a portion of the shank of the upper die, and of the retaining plate which secures the adjusting bolt of the nib die. Fig. 11 represents a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through the upper die showing a portion of its shank, the adjustable nib die, the

, plates have been forged by the action of my machine to possess both blind slots and nibs. Fig. 14 represents a top plan view of the assembled spring plates represented in F ig. 13.

Similar numerals of corresponding parts.

ln the drawings, 1 is the base framework of the machine, formed with a table top 2, from which spring upwardly a pair of parallel counterpart standards 3 connected by a' ci'osshead 4.

5 is a driving shaft transversely and horiy/Lontally disposed in the upper portion of the frame work in journal bearings 6 on the standards 3. The driving shaft extends to one side of the framework and carries a pulley 7, normally free but adapted by any preferred clutching device, preferably one of a character hereinafter described, to be clutched to the shaft to occasion its rotation.

8 is a collar for retaining the. pulley upon the shaft.

Between the journal bearings (i, the shaft is formed with a crank 9. upon which is mounted by boXings 10 a vertically depending pitman 1.1 adapted to operate the carrier or crosshead 12 of the upper or male die 13. The cross-head 12 travels in any suitable vertical bearings, preferably such as are shown in Figs. 1, and 8, which are composed of vertically disposed gib plates 14. adjustably mounted upon and connected with the standards 3 of the framework. 1n order conveniently to connect the pitman 11 with thecrank 9 of the driving shaft 5, l provide it with cap boxings 15, and at its lower end 1 form the pitinan with laterally extending wrist pins 1G, oscillatory within bearings 17 upon the upper end of the crosshead 12.l The cross-head is vertically channeled or slotted to receive the shank 1S of the upper or male die 18, which is fixedlv retained in place by a retaining plate 19 bolted upon the cross-head. Obviously. in the rotation of the driving shaft, the throw of the pitman will occasion the upward and downward movement of the cross-head and upper or male die.

Referringto Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the upper or male die 13 is formed with a slot die 27 of the shape necessary to strike oi forge the blind slot, s, in the spring plate, 7),-and

reference indicate it is also chambered or recessed longitudinally to form a dovetailed channel 20 within which is fitted a longitudinally adjustable nib die 21, the nib of which is designated 22. rlhe nib die as an entirety is adapted for adjustable movement within the dovetailed channel 20 of the .male die, conveniently by means of an adjusting bolt 23 threaded within a bolt socket 24 in said nib die and retained against longitudinal movement by the retaining collars 25 bearing against opposite sides of a retaining plate 26 secured to the end of the upper die as particularly illustrated in Figs. l0 and 1l. This organization of the upper die, as will be understood, permits of the movement and location of the nib die to any desired point longitudinally away from or toward the slot die 27, so that, for instance, the nib die may occupy the position represented in full outlines in Fig. 11 or in dotted lines as also indicated in said figure. The desired adjustment of the nib die relatively to the slot die, is made before the downward stroke of the upper die. 28 is a lower xed female die permanently secured, preferably by being dovetailed into it, in a die block 29 secured to the table top 2 ofthe framework. This fixed lower die is longitudinally channeled or slotted to form what I term a nib slot 30, of suliicient length to permit of the striking or forging down into it of a nib n, of the spring plate, y), in the striking action of the upper die, whatever may be the longitudinal adjustment of the nib die prior to the stroke. The die block 29 of this lower die is provided with parallel opposite adjustable gages 3l to define the lateral position of the spring plate when introduced upon said lower die, and to .retain it in proper position for the stroke of the descending upper 32 designates an end gage upon the` upper surface of the lower die, which is preferably adjustable and in cooperation with the side gages 3l serves to define the ultimate position of the spring plate prior to the action of the upper die.

Reference to Fig. l2 will show that the conformation of the lower die is such that it embodies an anvil upon which is placed and lies the outer end of the spring plate, and which supports said plate against the thrust o f the slot die 27 in its descent. This die action will therefore be understood as one of direct compression or, as the spring plate is of course heated, of forging,--and is in a. sense to be contra-distinguished from the action of stamping or depression which results from the downward stroke of the nib die against such portion of the spring plate as extends over the nib slot 30 in the lower die. In other words, the slot die hasconstant position and movement relatively .to

the anvil and is not in itself adjustable, whereas the nib die is adjustable relatively to the slot die and without reference to the position into which itV is placed, has movement relatively to the nib slot. The opposite of this relationship of adjustability might of course be resorted to, if it were desirable to move the slot die relativelyto the nib die. Practically, however, such a reversal or disposition would not be desirable. The depth, length and width of the nib slot may be varied.

In the operation of the machine, it is to be understood that the spring plates to be forged are inserted one after the other between the lateral gages and upon the lower die, and that if the driving shaft be in clutch with the pulley. the stroke of the upper die will be constant and determined by the speed of rotation of the shaft, which naturally should be of such slowness as to permit of the manual introduction of one spring plate after another without stopping the operation of the machine. ln order, however, to make it possible at will to stop the machine, a clutch between the driving shaft and pulley is, as in all presses of this general character, necessary.

l have stated that many types of clutches can be used, but, as a matter of fact, a foot controlled spring bolt type is preferable. In the organization shown in the drawings, I use a well known type of spring bolt clutch operated by a foot treadle, the construction of which is as follows: 34 is a foot treadle fulcrumed at 35 to the base framework of the machine, and 36 is a treadle rod pivoted at 37 to the treadle, extending upwardly from it and passing through a bearing 38 extending from the framework. 39 is a fixed spring collar on the treadle rod above the bearing 38, and between this collar and the bearing is interposed a coiled spring 40 which serves to normally hold the treadle and treadle rod in the position represented in Fig. 2, that is to say in their uppermost position. The upper end of the treadle rod is provided with a laterally-extending angularly faced lug 4l which is entered within a circumferential channel 42 in a clutch collar 43 splined `upon the driving shaft by means of a spring actuated clutch bolt 44 of the form shown in Figs. l and 9, which has formed in it a bolt notch 50 into which the lug 4l is also entered. The bolt has also a nose 45 adapted'to be protruded or shot into a socket 46 formed in the hub 47 of the pulley 7. 48 is a spring seated within a spring chamber 49 longitudinally formed within the bolt and which serves to force the nose of the bolt into the bolt socket of the jjlulley,'when the angularly faced lug 4l is withdrawn from the bolt-notch 50 by the depression of the treadle into the position shown in Fig. l. Upon the clutch collar 43 .is formed a peripheral radially extending segment 5l which in the rotation of the clutch collar encounters a fixed shoe 52 corresponding to the peripheral conformation of the segment and supported upon a bracket 58 carried by a standard of the framework.

lllhen the treadle is in the position represented in Fig. l and the bolt locked, it is obvious that the rotation of the pulley imparted to the shaft through the clutch bolt will occasionsuch rotation of the shaft, clutch collar and bolt, as will bring the bolt from the position which it is shown as occupying in said Fig. l to that in Fig. 9, with the result that in this half rotation, the bolt notch 50 will have encountered the angular lug 41 and forced the bolt backward or away from the pulley hub so as to release the pulley from thel sha ft and stop its rotation. When this shall have occurred, the collar segment 51 will, by its frictional encounter with the shoe bracket 53, have come to rest and the machine will have stopped, not to be put into action again until the treadle is again depressed. When then the treadle is depressed and the angular lug 41 of the treadle rod withdrawn from both the bolt notch 50 and the clutch channel 42, the spring 48 of the clutch bolt 44 will throw the nose of the bolt into engagement with the socket 45 in the hub of the pulley and start the machine,-with the operating result that so long as the pulley is being driven at a proper speed, the machine will properly and continuously run.V

Although it is not a preferable construction, it is obviously possible for me to impart the movement which causes the approach and separation of the upper and lower dies, to `the lower die rather than'to the upper die. Practically` however, the upper die is the-one which should be moved. It mav, however, be fixed and the lower die made movable. The change would simply be within the province of a mechanic. It is further obvious that a mechanic could so organize the machine as to impart movement to both the upper and the lower die so as to bring them synchronously together and synchronously separatev them. It is still further obviousthat so long as one of the major dies embodies both a nib die and a slot die and the other both an anvil and a nib slot, the relative adjustability of the nib die and the slot die is not vital to the performance of the forging function of the two major dies to produce the ultimate nibbed and slotted forged bar.

From all of the foregoing it will now be yapparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage herelnbefore explained,

and that while in the present instance I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of that construction, it is to be understood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is1- l. A machine for at a single operation both nibbing and slotting the ends of bars, which comprises in combination,-a composite male die embodying both a nib die to forge a nib and a slot die to forge a slot in a bar, located longitudinally upon the striking face of said male die,-a composite female die embodying both a nib slot within which the nib die strikes to nib the bar and an anvil against which the slot die strikes tor slot the bar, located longitudinally upon the receiving face of said female die,-and mechanism for occasioning the approach and separation of said male and female dies.

2. A machine for at a single operation both nibbing and slotting the ends of bars, which comprises in combinatioIn-a composite male die embodying both a nib die to forge a nib and a slot die to forge a slot in a bar, located longitudinally upon the striking face of said male die,-a composite female die embodying both a nib slot within which the nib die strikes to nib the bar and an anvil against which the slot die strikes to slot the bar, located longitudinally upon the receiving face of said female die,--gages upon said female die,-and mechanism for occasioning the approach and separation of said male and female dies.

3. A machine for simultaneously nibbing and slotting the ends of bars, which. comprises in combinationf-a composite male die embodying a nib die` a slot die and means for adjusting said dies relatively to each other,a female die embodying both a nib slot and an anvil,-and mechanism for occasioning the approach and separation of said male and female dies.

4. A machine for simultaneouslyl nibbing and slotting the ends of bars, which comprises in eombination,-a composite male die embodying a nib die` a slot die and means for adjusting` said dies relatively to each other,-a female die embodying both a nib slot and an anvil,gages upon said female did-and mechanism for occasioning the approach and separation of said male and female dies.

A machine for simultaneously nibbing and slotting the ends of bars, which comprises in combinatioln-a composite male die embodying a nib die, a slot die, and

means for adjusting said dies relatively to each othe1,-a female die embodying both a nib slot of greater longitudinal length than the length of the nib of the nib die, and an anvil,-and mechanism for occasioning the approach and separation of said male and female dies.

(S. A machine for simultaneously nibbing and slotting the ends of bars, which comprises in combination,a composite male die embodying a nib die, a slot die, and means for adjusting said dies relatively to each otherf-a female die embodying both a nib slot of greater longitudinal length than the length of the nib of the nib die, and an anviL-gages upon said female die,and mechanism for occasioning the approach and separation of said male and female dies.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this twelfth day of July, A. D. 1915.

VILLIAM EVANS.

In the presence of- J. BoNsALL TAYLOR, HARRY PLANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissione;l of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

